"Now ye are the body of Christ and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." 1 Corinthians 12:27-28.
The Lord was still showing me things about this repotted plant. Now that is had room to grow it was growing in leaps and bounds. New leaves began popping out all over this plant. Then the Lord showed me where the new leaves were growing. They were growing in exactly the same place where the old leaves had dropped off. Every notch where there had been an old leaf, there was growing a new leaf. When God replants us in a larger place, He gets rid of everything that looked alright on the outside but was camouflaging the deadness on the inside. Those large leaves with yellowing edges eventually turned completely yellow and dropped off the plant, and many of them, I pinched off because the roots where still trying to feed those dead leaves. God has to pinch off those things that we still try to hold on to; those past hurts, failures, disappointments, fears, and even relationships that are sucking the life out of our spiritual being and keeping us from growing where we are planted. Sometimes it's a painful struggle to make the change, and we find we cannot do it alone, it's too big for us to handle by ourselves. We cannot make the change in our life without the help of the Holy Spirit. Thanks be to God, that the Holy Spirit is ever present to help us. Our Lord Jesus Christ tells Him what to do, and He (the Holy Spirit) guides and directs us so that we can become that member of the body of Christ that we were predestinated to be: that prophet or teacher, or worker of miracles, or in the ministry of helps, or an apostle, etc.
I noticed that not one leaf on that plant was trying to jump in another leaf's place. They all had their own space to grow in. There was no arguing, no jealousy, no envying: just perfect harmony. And as they all grew together the plant was becoming a beautiful sight to behold. When we as members of the body of Christ grow where we are planted, we become a joy to our Father and a beautiful sight for the world to see. "Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ; that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;" Philippians 1:27.
